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Kalyan Singh reiterate commitment to build Ram temple

Sharat Pradhan in Ayodhya

In sharp contrast to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's stand about keeping the Ayodhya temple off the coalition government's agenda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today reiterated his party's "commitment" to construct the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The chief minister, who was here on a day's visit, said, "Construction of the Ram temple has not only been our priority commitment, but also our commitment to the people of this country. And we are going to fulfil this."

He was addressing a well-attended public rally at the end of a hectic schedule during which he visited all prominent Hindu religious spots and met umpteen saffron-clad sadhus of various Hindu divisions. Referring to the makeshift temple that stands on the debris of the razed 16th century Babri masjid, Kalyan Singh, who is currently facing court trial of his role in the 1992 demolition, made his views clear.

"The makeshift temple has already been in existence; and if anyone still thinks that he could get any other place of worship erected at the site, then such a person deserved to be sent to a lunatic asylum....

"The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be at the spot where the idol of Lord Ram is installed at present," he said, adding this would be done at all costs, because "construction of the temple was directly linked to the building of this great nation".

Pushing forward the Bharatiya Janata Party's Hindutva agenda, the chief minister said, "It is the era of Hindutva that will determine the political destiny of the country." The call of Hindutva is so strong that even so-called secular parties dare not skirt it," he said, adding, "Obviously, realisation has dawned on these parties that they too cannot get away by ridiculing or insulting Hindutva."

He sought to substantiate his claim by referring to the recent visits to Ayodhya of some Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders, which, he termed their "attempt to make forays into Ayodhya politics."

Shifting to the issue of conversions, he charged Christian missions with taking undue advantage of people's poverty to divide Hindu society. He blamed the situation on the rise of Sonia Gandhi in Indian politics.

"Sonia Gandhi has been responsible for tarnishing the country's image as all this (the conversions controversy) has begun largely with her emergence on the national political scene," he said.

Kalyan Singh, who is visiting Ayodhya the second time after he assumed office last year, also announced a plan to promote promotion of tourism in Ayodhya. He announced a Rs 210 million "development package" to upgrade facilities and civic amenities and beautifying the city. This was besides the expenditure of Rs 180 million already incurred here since BJP rode to power.

The chief minister's sudden generosity to Ayodhya is believed to be an attempt to assuage the feelings of the local sadhus who have recently been objecting vehemently to what they termed, "Kalyan Singh's utter apathy to Hindutva and the sadhu community."

It may be recalled that the sadhus had staged protest demonstrations in Lucknow, claiming the chief minister was indifferent to their demands. Political observers, however, see the chief minister's outburst as an attempt by him to embarrass Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee is to be accorded a civic reception at Lucknow, his political constituency, tomorrow.

Kalyan's detractors within the BJP are putting up that show, and they had managed to invite prominent Islamic scholars, including Maulana Ali Mian and Maulana Kable Sadiq, president and vice-president respectively of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board. Also invited as guests of honour were leading Christian priests.

It will be no surprise if Kalyan's remarks kept these invitees away from the much publicised affair tomorrow, causing Vajpayee much discomfiture.

RELATED REPORT: Powerful bomb found at Ayodhya station

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